Neumann M7 Backplate Makro

Neumann M7 Backplate Makro

Lit from the side and shot against blue background.

The famous M7 double diaphragm capsule by Neumann, Germany was the first successful capacitive transducer that delivered excellent sound quality. Even today it is still among the very best of it´s kind.
Although a double diaphragm design, it was used as fixed cardioid capsule for many years in the modular "lollipop"-head. It was attached to a large tube ampifier (the "Neumann-Flasche") via a bayonett-mount.
After World War II it was used in the first switchable microphone, the U47 (Omnidirectional & Cardioid pattern) and shortly after in the world´s first remote controllable mic - the M49 (continuously variable pattern between Omi and Figure Eight).

The M7´s frequency response is basically flat in omni pattern, noticeably midrange pronounced in cardioid and very midrange pronounced in figure eight pattern.

The M7 capsule is made from a single piece of brass (32mm total diameter).

Today it is manufactured by Microtech Gefell: http://www.microtechgefell.de/index.php/de/
Also Siegfried Thiersch (Thiersch Elektroakustik) makes a faithful reproduction of the original: http://www.thiersch-mic.de/stm_produkte.html